Bypass grafting for the treatment of critical lower limb ischemia with distal single outflow artery: an analysis of 39 cases / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate a bypass surgery for the treatment of critical lower limb ischemia. MethodsFourty-five limbs in 39 patients with single outflow artery underwent arterial bypass graft, including femoropopliteal artificial graft to single outflow artery with autograft in 21 limbs (46.7%) and popliteal artery to calf vessel in 10 limbs (22.2%). Results Among 39 patients, one died of respiratory failure 5 days post-op (death rate 2.6%); one suffered from artificial graft occlusion (2.6%). The patency rate of graft was 100% on discharge. Healing rate of foot ulcer was 30%. Conclusions It is difficult to reconstruct blood flow for critical ischemic limb with single outflow artery, but good result is still expected by distal lower limb bypass graft. Distal bypass can result in a limb salvage or lowering of amputation level, providing a better nutritional support for the healing of foot ulcer.